ARC Book Review: The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs is weaves a magical tale of family, second chances, self-discovery and love that will leave readers spellbound. Read the blurb, publication history, genre, favourite quotes, book review below.
About The Lost and Found Bookshop:
Title and Author: The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
No. of Pages: 368
Publication Date: 7th July 2020 by William Morrow
Genre: Romance Novel, Domestic Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Blurb:
In this thought-provoking, wise and emotionally rich novel, New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs explores the meaning of happiness, trust, and faith in oneself as she asks the question, “If you had to start over, what would you do and who would you be?”
There is a book for everything . . .
Somewhere in the vast Library of the Universe, as Natalie thought of it, there was a book that embodied exactly the things she was worrying about.
In the wake of a shocking tragedy, Natalie Harper inherits her mother’s charming but financially strapped bookshop in San Francisco. She also becomes caretaker for her ailing grandfather Andrew, her only living relative—not counting her scoundrel father.
But the gruff, deeply kind Andrew has begun displaying signs of decline. Natalie thinks it’s best to move him to an assisted living facility to ensure the care he needs. To pay for it, she plans to close the bookstore and sell the derelict but valuable building on historic Perdita Street, which is in need of constant fixing. There’s only one problem–Grandpa Andrew owns the building and refuses to sell. Natalie adores her grandfather; she’ll do whatever it takes to make his final years happy. Besides, she loves the store and its books provide welcome solace for her overwhelming grief.
After she moves into the small studio apartment above the shop, Natalie carries out her grandfather’s request and hires contractor Peach Gallagher to do the necessary and ongoing repairs. His young daughter, Dorothy, also becomes a regular at the store, and she and Natalie begin reading together while Peach works.
To Natalie’s surprise, her sorrow begins to dissipate as her life becomes an unexpected journey of new connections, discoveries and revelations, from unearthing artifacts hidden in the bookshop’s walls, to discovering the truth about her family, her future, and her own heart.
The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs Review:
The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs is a delightful book about love, loss, second chances, and about finding one’s identity that will appeal to everyone. An ancient building with a legend about a mysterious treasure that now houses a decades old bookstore, The Lost and Found Bookshop is a quaint albeit slightly crumbling place for all book lovers in the area. A historical-landmark for the surrounding areas, it is now facing closure due to unpaid debts.
Natalie Harper had a disciplined but unsatisfactory life in the city. Though she was financially stable, had a great boyfriend and even performed well at her job yet she wasn’t happy. Then the sudden death of her mother leaves her the sole caretaker of her ailing grandfather and the owner of the family business, The Lost and Found Bookshop. Faced with difficult and life-altering decisions,
Natalie who didn’t have an impulsive bone in her body, drove away from stability, from safety, from everything she had worked for and focused on for the past decade…she had thrown away a stable, lucrative job to embrace a failing enterprise with no safety net…”
Quotes from The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
This is a book that came as a soft breeze and worked up a storm in my heart. The emotions it made me feel are so pure and the best highlight of this splendid book. I adored every second I spent reading it.
The pain is the reflection of how much we loved her…”
Quotes from The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
Susan Wiggs’ books are an experience that leave the readers feeling full of intense emotions and with a satisfaction that comes after reading a mind-blowing story. Another thing that I have noticed with this author’s books is that most often the readers will love one or more supporting characters the most. That character/characters will overshadow the protagonists and this is what happened here, again, with me. My emotions ran high all through this book and despite loving Natalie and Peach, I loved Natalie’s “Grandy” Andrew and Peach’s daughter, Dorothy the most.
Andrew made me fondly remember my own grandfather with his poise, elegance, knowledge and all round gentlemanly way of living. With the modern world progressing leaps and bounds in terms of technology, I often think that we have left the rich mannerisms, the fighter-spirit and the caring, community way of living of the olden times. People like Andrew-May Lin and my own grandparents, despite not having much money and many comforts, and facing difficulties all through their lives were still so happy and led an overall richer life emotionally than us, people of these modern days.
Despite his confusion and moments of dementia, he was still the man she had always known. He possessed a shining humanity that demanded fairness and decency.”
Quotes from The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
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All through the book, the readers will feel the magical comfort that books bring and the dream of owning a bookstore that all book lovers wish for.
…books were alive in a special way. Between the covers, characters were living their lives, enacting their dramas, falling in and out of love, finding trouble, working out their problems. Even sitting closed on a shelf, a book had a life of its own. When someone opened the book, that was when the magic happened…”
Quotes from The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
A book would never betray you or change its mind or make you feel stupid…”
Quotes from The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
I stayed glued to my seat throughout, eagerly turning the pages and highlighting the quotes that resonated with me even faster. This is one of those books that is rich in quotable quotes that are all life-lessons worth reading, emulating and sharing with others.
To find out who you are, remember who you used to be.”
Quotes from The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
You never knew when you were seeing a loved one for the last time.”
Quotes from The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
I loved everything about this book- the realistic plot, the vivid narration, the soulful emotional play, the memorable characters, the historical mysteries, the treasure hunt and the thrill of finding out where you come from. The romance between Natalie and Peach took a backseat for me but that is okay because I was enjoying the other facets of evergreen love be it the love between star-crossed lovers that is patient, the love between a parent and his child, a grandfather for his granddaughter and vice-versa.
The pain of losing a loved on, of losing your memories to old age and the regret that comes from not appreciating our loved ones while they lived is all so poignantly described in this book. I had tears in my eyes and a motivation in my heart to not make these same mistakes. After I finished this book, I immediately called my family to tell them that they are appreciated!
He feared losing the cherished memories. If he forgot, would that mean his life had never happened at all? That it didn’t mean anything?”
Quotes from The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
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The ache of loss was almost physical as she yearned for more time with her mother. The two of them had their differences, but at the core of their relationship was an indelible bond…It was utter torture to think about all the conversations she’d never have, all the moments she’d miss out on…”
Quotes from The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
While I thoroughly enjoyed and loved everything about this enchanting story, I did feel like the end was a bit hasty. Things were sudden;y wrapped-up and while everything happened to my utter delight and it was a happy ending all through, I still felt quickly pushed through the door outside. Maybe because I was enjoying so much and didn’t want to leave. I hope Susan Wiggs revisits these characters again. I want to especially read more about Andrew and May Lin. Such beloved characters, all the people in this book already feel like family and this shows the writing prowess of the author. She enchanted me so much that I feel connected with her fictional characters just as if they were real!
All in all, The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs is definitely one of the “best books of 2020” to grace the book shelves. This is a proud 5 out of 5 super shiny stars book that Njkinny recommends to everyone. A not-to-be-missed story that will haunt you with the depth of the emotions you feel while reading it, this book is now a member of “Njkinny’s all-time favourite books“. Go read it now and gift it to your loved ones.
I look forward to reading more from Susan Wiggs in the future and can’t stop fangirling about it. She is an author I wholeheartedly recommend for soulful stories that touch the heart and are thought-provoking
How would you live your life differently if you could start over, what would you do, who would you be, where would you go, what would you embrace?”
Quotes from The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
Buy The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs from:
Also Read:
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- ARC Book Review: Alpha Night by Nalini Singh
- ARC Book Review: A Dark and Stormy Knight by Kerrigan Byrne
- ARC Book Review: Deadly Curious by Cindy Anstey
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